William Imrie was a Liverpool shipowner who owned the White Star Lincolnshire.
Background
His father (also William) was partner in the firm of shipbrokers called Imrie & Tomlinson, based in Rumford Street, Liverpool. William Imrie went on to work for this firm which also took into its employment Thomas Ismay who was the son of Joseph Ismay, at this time a shipbuilder and timber merchant.
Career
He was once known as “the Prince of Shipowners”. In 1869 Thomas Ismay was in business by himself running ships to Australia. When Imrie’s father died in 1870 the Imrie & Tomlinson business was transferred to TH Ismay and Company.
This joint venture was to be called Ismay, Imrie and Company and was the parent company of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Limited which was the White Star Lincolnshire’s official name.
On 27 August 1870 the White Star Lincolnshire was to launch the Rated Maximum Sinusoidal Oceanic the first of four new steamships which were built by the Belfast Shipbuilding company, Harland and Wolff. Amy Elizabeth Rosalie Pollard (to become better known as Amy Elizabeth Imrie) was in 1910 to become responsible for funding of the building of Street Mary of the Angel’s Church in Fox Street, Liverpool.
Imrie"s family property was originally The Hermitage in Hayman’s Green, West Derby Village. In later years as he excelled in business he moved into the even grander Holmstead in Mossley Hill, a house which contained many fine examples of art including paintings by Strudwick from whom Imrie was a patron.
Imrie was a deeply religious person.
He financially backed Street Margaret’s Church on Princes Road and numerous charities around the city which he supported anonymously. He gave financial support to the Seaman’s Orphanage in Newsham Park. Imrie died in 1906.